Postpartum Depression

Severe Postpartum depression - wife

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Faraz194 wrote:

Hi All,I'm writing this on my wife's behalf. I'm a very concerned husband and I'm very fearful of if and how she will be able to come out of it.She had 2 consecutive episodes of panic attacks 1 week after our son's birth. She was put on prozac 40mg and after 3-4 uncomfortable days she started to feel better. Everything was normal for next 2 weeks and just when i thought she is close to 100% , boom, the anxiety kicked in. Fear of baby cry, fear of if he is not well, fear of complete untrust in her ability to look after him in future. My mom helped and took care of the baby. I thought things will improve but things detoriated. She started to get symptoms of those panic attacks again. She went in to the shell. It became impossible tor me to get her out of that shell. She will cry and say i can't take it anymore.Then came another bombshell. Suicide thoughts. That made me immensely worried. I took her to hospital. She was so low on mood that doctors said she will need to be hosptilized. She started saying things that didn't made sense. She thought she is already dead. i literally felt like she is possesed or something like that. Doctors said it's severe depression. 1 month of prozac didn't worked. She was under doctors observation for next 3 days where they hoped she will show some improvement. She didn't. In fact situation got so quickly uncontrollable that doctors said she should under go ECT. We all discussed at home and agreed. Her situation before the ect is that she wasn't herself anymore. Her talk's were so wierd. Whenever she talked she said I'm dead or everyone around her is dead etc. There was not even a single minute where i felt she is feeling fine. 2 days ago she had the 1st ect session done. I had high hopes, sadly there is absolutely no difference. She doesn't eat by herself, she talks same like before , i feel she is under continuos state of fear. She even looses her voice when she speaks. Doctors say give it some time. More ECTs and she will be back on track soon.I'm extremely worried. It's been more than 5 days i haven't seen her talked normal even for a second..Is she ever going to recover from this state? How long it's gonna last? Are we on right track and is this the only track left?

I've never heard of a Mom getting this severe. Does she have a history of mental health issues? PPD and PPA take sometime to get better everyone is different. Your Doug the right thing by getting her help and having mom help with the baby. Stay by her side and be patient. It sounds like you really love and care about your wife. Sometimes a birth of a baby can really make a mom have a rough time. She may just not be reacting to the Prozac well either. Hang in there and keep supporting her.

You are taking the right steps. Make sure you take care of yourself right now too. Your job is to keep your baby safe and well cared for and happy. Keep yourself together. Trust the doctors with your wife. Keep loving her and absolutely have hope and faith that she will recover. There is always hope. Sending your family prayers for healing. Again, make sure you are doing things for yourself too. This is traumatizing for everyone and your baby needs you. The hospital will care for your wife.

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